She says she cannot marry Darcy because he has separated Bingley from her sister, Jane, "ruining, perhaps for ever, the happiness of a most beloved sister[.]" She goes on to say that she is familiar with Darcy's dealings with Wickham, and finds them indefensible (the book and movies differ on how this was said). Finally, she says she could not marry a man whose manners show arrogance, conceit, and "selfish disdain for the feelings of others."
"Miss Bennet's* astonishment was soon lessened by the strong sisterly partiality which made any admiration of Elizabeth appear perfectly natural; and all surprise was shortly lost in other feelings. She was sorry that Mr. Darcy should have delivered his sentiments in a manner so little suited to recommend them; but still more was she grieved for the unhappiness which her sister's refusal must have given him."
~Pride and Prejudice, chapter 40
*That's Jane--she's called "Miss Bennet" because she is the oldest unmarried Bennet sister. The others would be differentiated as "Miss Elizabeth", "Miss Mary", etc.
Darcy sees his social skills as inferior to Elizabeth's piano skills, implying that she excels where he falters. Elizabeth's response reflects her wit and confidence, indicating that she is not intimidated by Darcy and is quick to engage in playful banter with him.
Wickham is very good at telling a convincing story. He convinces Elizabeth that Darcy has cruelly deprived him of an inheritance Darcy's father clearly intended to provide for him.
Mr. Wickham was supposedly the reason why Elizabeth rejected Mr. Darcy's marriage proposal, as he had spread false rumors about Mr. Darcy that influenced Elizabeth's opinion of him.
She was proposed to three times. First by Mr. Collins, whom she refused. Secondly by Mr. Darcy, whom she intially also refused. And the third time she was proposed to by Darcy again, whom she accepted. =)
Darcy proposed to Elizabeth for the first time.
Distraught
Distraught
Elizabeth's reaction to what the housekeeper said about Mr. Darcy is an example of dramatic irony. This is because she is unaware of Mr. Darcy's true feelings, while the readers are aware of them.
Mr. Darcy proposed to Elizabeth for the first time before Elizabeth went on vacation with the Gardiners.
Darcy gave Elizabeth a letter the morning after he had proposed, and she refused, at Hunsford, in Kent. The purpose of the letter was to defend himself from the accusations she had made against him as she rejected him.
Lady Catherine lied to Elizabeth by saying that Mr. Darcy had agreed to marry her daughter, Anne de Bourgh. In reality, Mr. Darcy had not proposed to Anne and had no intention of doing so. Lady Catherine's intention was to discourage Elizabeth from pursuing a relationship with Mr. Darcy.
Elizabeth learns about Darcy's role in influencing Bingley by reading a letter Darcy writes to her. In the letter, Darcy reveals that he convinced Bingley to distance himself from Jane Bennet because he believed Jane did not truly love Bingley. This revelation opens Elizabeth's eyes to Darcy's true character and motivations.